Floods, Yasi stamp their mark on 2011

The summer of 2011 was already going to go down in Queensland's history for all the wrong reasons.

Extensive flooding had already seen 75 per cent of the state declared a disaster zone with floodwaters claiming the lives of 33 from the time the rains began in late November.

The crescendo was an awesome final display of strength when the Brisbane River claimed the state's capital.

But just three weeks after that "one-in-100-year" event, mother nature had another hammer blow for Queensland.

Just over 24 hours ago, the worst cyclone in the state's living history crossed the coast near Mission Beach, about 50km south of Innisfail, flinging roofs off houses, stripping trees, flattening crops and snapping power poles in two.

Wind gusts were estimated to be as fast as 290km/h but the full force of Cyclone Yasi may never be known. There are no gauges where the monster storm made landfall.

But those in its path were in no doubt that it was the most furious storm imaginable.

Those who bore the brunt of it in Mission Beach, Tully, Cardwell, Silkwood and surrounding towns spent a terrifying night as roaring winds ripped their communities apart.

Those who lived through baby brother Larry - the category four cyclone that savaged Innisfail in 2006 - said Yasi was something else.